Heel and arch support



Sept. 22, 1936.

H. H. AHERN HEEL AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed Jan. 23, 1936 Wm H H PatentedSept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ME r 2,055,399

I illEI l ARCH SUPPORT Harry H. Aher-n, Newport News, Va. 7 ApplicationJanuary 23, 1936, Serial No. 60,514

6 'Glaims.

This invention relates to a heel and archsupport, and it is primarily anobjectof the invention to provide a device of this kind comprising asupporting ,member to be placed within al-shoe, said member being of alength to permit effective coaction with the arch and heel of the footupon which the shoe is applied, said supporting memher being providedwith means to adjnstably hold to the supporting member one or more padsof any desiredmaterial to facilitate the building up of the foot as maybe required or for lifting or .elevating the heel as the condition ofthe foot may require. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindincluding a supporting member for insertion within a shoe andwhiohmember carries one or more pads readily adjusted to selective positionsupon the supporting member as may be required by the condition of themetatarsal and/or tarsal bones to build up the foot to restore both thelongitudinal and lateral arches of the normal foot structure, or saidpad or pads may be selectively adjusted with respect to the s calcis toeffect an adjustment as may be required by the tibia or fibula to raiseor elevate the heel to correct any tendency of the heel to turn.

An additional object of the invention is-to provide a-device of thiskind "whichmay be readily and conveniently adjusted or regulated toprovide simultaneous support to the foot in proper proportion to theamount of support-needed and which is therefore useful in relieving painand also substantially eliminating or reducing to a minimum theformation of bunions, callouses, hardened skin and kindred elements.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved heel andarch support whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a heel and arch support constructedin accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in an invertedposition;

Figure 2 is a view inbottom plan of the device Figure 4 is a sectionalview taken substantially ion the line 1- of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, S denotes .a footsupportingmember in its entirety and which, asherein disclosed, comprises arelatively thin plate vl having its marginal portion returned to providea marginal head or flange 2 whereby said marginal portion of the plate Iis effectively reinforced to assure the maintenance of the plate I indesired formation. I new, however, wish to limit myself to the footsupporting member being made of only one plate because if preferred aplurality of superimposed plates may be employed and arranged as is, forexample, comprised in my prior Patents #l,7 01,252 of February 5, 1-929and #1,858,178 .of May 10, 1932.

In the present instance the plate I has a rear depression 3 for thereception of the heel of the foot which, (as is well known, in thenormal foot protrudes lower than the arch and instep of the foot. Theplate I is also formed with the convex portion 4 forming a rest orsupportfor the arch of the footand this convex portion iscontinued by asomewhat flattened portion 5 which extends slightly downward tofacilitate the insertion or withdrawal of the foot, and particularlywith an applied stocking, within the shoe in which the device isarranged. v i

The forward part of the flattened portion 5, as herein disclosed, isprovided with a convex portion 6 to assure adequate support for thephalanges of the foot although when circumstances warrant this portion 6may be dispensed with.

The particular formation of the plate I as hereinbefore referred toforms no part of the present invention as this plate as disclosed in theaccompanying drawing forms no part of the present invention as thisplate as disclosed in the drawing is substantially the same in contourand formation as the foot support described and illustrated in myalready issued Patent #1,858,1'78 hereinbefore referred to.

To the outer side of the plate I closely adjacent to but slightly to therear of the portion 6 and to one side of the transverse center of theplate I is pivotally connected, as at I, a plurality of elongated arms8, 9 and Ill. Each of these arms is of tempered steel or other materialwhereby the arm possesses a certain degree of inherent resiliency. WhileI am showing three of these arms 2 7' iv i 2,055,399

in the present embodiment of my invention, I wish to state at this timethat the number may be increased or decreased as the individualcircumstances may make the most desirable. Associated with each of thesearms 8, 9 and ill are the pads ll herein disclosed as circular ordisk-like in form although I do not Wish to limit myself-to thisparticular design. The central portion of each of these pads I l isprovided with a pair of spaced slots 12 through which threads one of thethree arms 8, 9 or H By this means the pad ll may be readily applied orremoved and when in applied position may be adjusted along ment of thepad with respect to the metatarsal;

the tarsal bones or the os calcis.

It is also to be noted that the arms 8, 9 and I0 are of differinglengths. Thisv is of importance and advantage as it permits theadjustment of the pad over a greater area of the plate I. The longestarm 8 is of especial advantage in adjusting the pad ll toward theforward end of the plate while the shorter arms 9 and H] can be employed'to advantage in adjusting the pad either laterally of the plate I or ina direction toward the heel end. In addition to the adjustment of thepad ll along its arm it is to be noted that a further adjustment of eachof the pads with respect to the plate I or the sole of the .foot may beobtained by swinging the arms about its pivot.

It is also to be stated that the inherent resiliency of each of the arms8, 9 and It! is such 7 of the pads will be effectively maintained in itsdesired adjusted position during the use of the device.

The pads H may be of any material desired such as rubber, rubbercompound, metal, leather, or fiber. V

The head or flange 2 hereinbefore referred to in additionto reinforcingthe marginal portion of the plate I also provides a finished edge forthe plate which will not catch in the lining of the shoe as the deviceis applied or removed from the shoe. This flange or bead also provides amarginal edge which will not cut into the foot being supported or becomeentangled with the stocking on said foot.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a heeland arch support constructed in accordance with my invention is partobepositioned at the heel and instep portion of a'shoe, an arm pivoted tothe plate, and a pad mounted upon the arm for sliding movementlengthwise thereof.

2; A heel and arch support comprising a plate to be positioned at theheel and instep portion of a shoe, an arm pivoted to the plate, and apad mounted upon the arm for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, saidarm possessing inherent resiliency for 'coaction with the plate tofrictionally hold the arm and pad in selected adjustments.

3.' A heel and arch support comprising a plate 7 to be positioned at theheel and instep portion of a shoe, an arm pivotally connected to theplate,

a pad, the central portion of the pad having spaced slots, the armthreading through the slots whereby the pad is connected to the arm forsliding movement in either direction along the arm.

4. A heel and arch support comprising a plate to be positioned at theheel and instep portion of a shoe, a plurality of elongated. arms, acommon pivot for the arms for holding said arms to the plate forswinging movement, and a pad slidably engaged with each of the arms.

5. A heel and arch support comprising a plate to be positioned at theheel and instep portion of a shoe, a plurality of elongated arms, acommon pivot for the arms for holding said arms to the plate forswinging movement, and a pad slidably engaged with each of the arms, oneof said arms being ofa length greater than the remainder.

6. A heel and arch support comprising a plate to be positioned at theheel and instep portion of a shoe, an arm pivoted to the forward portionof the plate to one side of the transverse center of sliding movementlengthwise thereof.

HARRY H. AI-IEERN.

